Departure for the Myriad Phenomena Hall

The strong always rose from setbacks, never losing heart.

Qin Hao was not afraid. His heart was like a keen sword, pressing ever forward!

At first light, Qin Hao arrived at the Qin Main Courtyard.

Many Qin disciples had already gathered there, along with all the Qin elders.

"Young Master Qin Hao!"

"Young Master Qin Hao!"

Many Qin disciples looked at him with awe, but even more with shame and guilt.

When Qin Hao had first been found to possess a First-Grade Martial Soul, everyone had dismissed him.

Who would have thought he would astonish everyone at the Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament and claim first place in one stroke?

"I'm ashamed. I said so many awful things about Young Master Qin Hao back then."

"If that had happened to me, I'd never have kept going, much less devoted myself to cultivation."

"Exactly! What steadfast will Young Master Qin Hao has! And if he hadn't shown his might, the Qin would have suffered terribly at the Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament!"

As they talked, their gazes toward Qin Hao grew more reverent.

That was how the world worked: the strong commanded respect.

A Martial Soul mattered, of course, but strength was what counted!

"Young Master Qin Hao's aura seems much stronger!" In the crowd, Qin Xiongfeng's eyes narrowed in alarm.

"Qin Hao's cultivation... Could he have broken through?"

"He reached the Seventh Layer of Body Tempering overnight!"

"Even with Body Tempering Pills, how could that fellow advance so fast?"

The Qin elders also sensed something remarkable about Qin Hao, and surprise showed on every face.

They could not tell his exact cultivation level, but he had clearly reached the Seventh Layer of Body Tempering!

Remembering the commotion at the Young Master's Residence, their hearts surged like troubled seas.

The elders had also sensed the disturbance during Qin Hao's fight with Liu Chengfeng.

But Liu Wei had already dealt with the body, and Qin Yuntian had told them nothing. Naturally, no one knew what had happened.

If they learned that Qin Hao had killed Liu Chengfeng alone, how shocked would they be?

"Time to go."

Under everyone's gaze, Qin Hao strode toward the center of the city.

"Wait, Qin Hao."

He had barely left the Qin estate when a familiar voice called out.

"What is it?"

Qin Hao turned and saw Qin Feng and Qin Peng approaching with cold expressions.

Qin Peng said icily, "You know perfectly well you have a First-Grade Martial Soul, don't you?"

Qin Hao gave him a sidelong glance. "What are you trying to say?"

"I'm here to tell you how to survive in the Myriad Phenomena Hall!"

Qin Peng bristled at his attitude. "If you weren't a Qin disciple, I wouldn't bother!"

"You crippled Liu Kuang and cost the Liu their place in the next Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament. They hate you to the bone. Liu Ruoxue, Yang Benhong, and the Lei won't let you off either."

"You haven't even entered the Myriad Phenomena Hall, and you've already made countless enemies. If you want to get anywhere there, you need friends and senior brothers willing to support you."

Qin Peng spoke haughtily. "We can help you. Of course, you'll have to offer something in return."

"That's right, Qin Hao. You should know how to show gratitude," Qin Feng said mildly, as though he had bestowed a great favor on him.

"Gratitude? What a joke. You want my Body Tempering Pills and Azure Origin Fruits, don't you?" Qin Hao sneered.

Every Qin disciple knew Qin Hao had received five hundred Body Tempering Pills.

With the two of them bringing this up now, Qin Hao knew exactly what they wanted.

"Qin Hao! We're sincerely offering to help you. Don't spurn our kindness! As for the Body Tempering Pills... Hmph. With your paltry First-Grade Martial Soul, they're useless to you anyway. You might as well give them to us."

Qin Feng barked, "Qin Hao, don't make a mistake you'll regret!"

"Fools!"

Qin Hao looked at them coldly. "I've seen stupidity before, but never anyone as stupid as you two!"

They froze, then flew into a rage.

"With your meager strength, you think you can support someone else?" Qin Hao said flatly as he walked past them. "Being a fool isn't the worst thing. Being a fool who doesn't know it is."

"You don't have the strength to support me, and even if you did, I wouldn't need it."

"Because on the path of martial arts, I, Qin Hao, need no one to support me!"

With that, Qin Hao could not be bothered to look back. He strode away.

Qin Feng and Qin Peng stood rooted to the spot, their faces shifting between fury and humiliation.

Only after Qin Hao had gone did Qin Peng recover. His face twisted as he shouted, "Be as arrogant as you like now, Qin Hao! Once you reach the Myriad Phenomena Hall, you'll be on your knees begging us!"

"Let's return to the Myriad Phenomena Hall!"

Qin Feng's face was grim too. Both of them had approached Qin Hao, and he had refused?

Once Qin Hao reached the Myriad Phenomena Hall, they would teach him a lesson.

Tianshui City's Martial Arts Arena.

The Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament had ended, but many martial artists had gathered there again.

Chen Yuntian and Liu Xiao stood proudly on the arena platform, having arrived before Qin Hao.

Below them stood martial artists from Tianshui City's major powers, along with some Rogue Cultivators.

"Qin Hao!"

"Qin Hao's here!"

Qin Hao's entrance set the Martial Arts Arena abuzz.

His performance had been so astonishing that no one could help talking when he appeared.

"I'll defeat you, Qin Hao!" Chen Yuntian clenched his teeth, anger flashing in his eyes.

Liu Xiao's eyes burned with fighting spirit. "In three months, I'll surpass Qin Hao."

Meanwhile, at the Liu gathering place.

Unlike the Qin and Chen, the Liu had brought only a sparse handful of people.

"That worthless wretch is still alive!" Liu Ruoxue, Yang Benhong, and Yue Yilin were all there. Their faces darkened, and shock flashed through Liu Ruoxue's eyes.

Liu Chengfeng, the Liu's second most powerful figure and grand elder, had failed to kill Qin Hao?

"Qin Yuntian probably discovered him, and Liu Chengfeng's assassination failed," Yang Benhong said with a frown.

"Senior Brother Yang is right." Yue Yilin nodded. "Liu Chengfeng may be far weaker than us, but he had more than enough strength to deal with Qin Hao. Only Qin Yuntian could have stopped him."

"Don't worry, Junior Sister Liu. That worthless wretch won't escape death in the end." Yang Benhong turned to her with a smile.

Liu Ruoxue shook her head. "I'm not worried. He's just a worthless wretch. Even if he escaped this time, he won't live long."

"Senior Brother Yang, Senior Sister Yue, let's return to the Myriad Phenomena Hall."

"Let's go."

The three left at once without waiting.

From beginning to end, none of them said a word about what had happened to Liu Chengfeng.

They cared nothing for whether he lived or died.

Just as I thought! They were behind Liu Chengfeng's attack.

At the center of the Martial Arts Arena, Qin Hao watched Liu Ruoxue and the other two leave, a cold glint in his eyes.

He had seen their reactions clearly.

Liu Ruoxue. The Lei.

Just wait. I, Qin Hao, will make you pay!

Whoosh! Whoosh!...

Just then, far across the sky, a great bird with cyan feathers on its belly and fiery red wings beat those enormous wings, sending gusts rolling outward. A terrifying aura spread from it, and as it flew, fiery clouds filled the sky above Tianshui City.

Even the Martial Arts Arena grew much hotter!

A Second-Level Demon Beast: the Flaming Cyan Bird!

An old man stood on the Flaming Cyan Bird's back, his hands clasped behind him.

It was Chi Zhenheng!